Feeling Stressed

Breakfast meetings. Staff meetings. Department meetings. Lunch meetings. Church meetings. Practices. Band concerts. Baseball tournaments. Family meetings. Deadlines. Work projects. Meals on the run. Home projects. Entertaining guests. Conflict with co-worker. Conflict with family member. Sickness. Oh, did I just forget an appointment?

An overwhelmed sister, slaving away, exploded, "God, don't you care? My sister is a lazy, good for nothing.... Command her to stop being apathetic and help me!" (Chris paraphrase)

• We see in Martha's words to Jesus, an accusation that Jesus does not care.
• We see Martha blaming her sister and building a wall of conflict between them.
• We see Martha seeking to manipulate Jesus into doing Martha's will, not necessarily Jesus' will.

When we are stressed how often do we shake our fists at God and say, "Don't You care about my situation? Why aren't You helping me? Why are You so distant?"
Does Jesus care? Has Jesus moved away from us? Has Jesus changed?

How often have we blamed others during stressful seasons? How often have we built walls of conflict? Do we still have conflict with certain people due to stressful seasons? Holy Spirit, please reveal these relational walls that we have built.

How often have we tried to manipulate Jesus into doing what we want? How often do we pray manipulative prayers in Jesus' name? Holy Spirit, please reveal our in appropriate prayers.

Jesus' response revealed His understanding of Martha's situation. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; there is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."

Jesus painted realistic pictures with these two words, "worried" and "bothered." 
"Worried" means to be "pulled in many directions" and to be "divided into many parts." All of us have experienced Jesus' word. We know first hand what Jesus is saying.

"Bothered" means disquieted, noise, trouble. In other words, too many loud voices pulling us in too many directions that causes confusion, stuck-ness, anger, and conflict.

Jesus' solution? 
1. "Martha, Martha," personal, comforting and understanding words that reveal Jesus knows exactly what Martha is going through. God has not moved away from us. God is not distant nor unaware.

2. Jesus continued, "There is only one thing worth being concerned about." Being with Jesus. Being? Being. Being? Being.

Jesus patiently waits for us to learn the spiritual discipline of BEING with Jesus. In the midst of being pulled in all directions, how do we just BE with Jesus? Let's let Him teach us.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus together,
Pastor Chris

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